Do I need a permit to install a mini split?
Yes. Orange County requires a mechanical permit for permanently installed air conditioning equipment, and HVAC replacement or modification always requires one. If the new equipment needs a different wire size or breaker, an electrical permit is required as well. Only plug-in portable units are exempt.
The submittal is more involved than most people expect: energy calculations, ACCA Manual J, S and D, an Energy Performance Level display card, and a mechanical duct layout when ductwork is installed or modified. That is also the reason a correctly sized system is a calculation rather than a guess — an oversized unit short-cycles and never pulls the humidity out of a Florida house.
ALFE holds the HVAC license (CAC1823926), so the permit, the load calculation, the installation and the inspection are all ours. Full detail in our job-by-job permit guide for Central Florida.
